Thursday, November 08, 2007

"At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners" among teenagers, the study concluded.

According to researcher Douglas Kirby, the best way to teach young people about the risks of having sex at a young age, is to talk to them about contraceptives, as well as urging them to wait until they are older.

Despite the fact that abstinence only programs are still favored by Congress many health experts have clearly shown that they do not work, leading many to believe that the government is simply throwing away money so they do not have to tackle the issue from any other standpoint than their own.

"Now, we see a new spin, all these new attacks on abstinence ... trying to discourage parents from supporting what they feel in their gut is right for their children," said Kyleen Wright of Mansfield, president of the Irving-based Texans for Life Coalition.

"As the mother of two teenagers, I want my kids to be taught about abstinence, but I also know that that's not enough," said Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America who is formerly of Austin and the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

According to the National Abstinence Education Association, the study "entirely misrepresents the abstinence education approach."

Currently a $141 million bill is making its way through the differing levels of government that would be used to fund community-based, abstinence-only sex education programs, $4 million more than President Bush had requested.